Tube flaring tool



Jan. 1, 1935. H. D. STECHER TUBE FLAliING TOOL Filed Nov. 23, 1953 Zinbentor fis/wera STEC/Ifk attorneys Patented- Jan. 1, 1935 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBE FLABING TOOL .Henry D. Stecher, Lakewood, Ohio. allignor to The Weather-head Company, Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application November 23, 1933, Serial No. 699,369

10Glaims.

This invention relates to tools for flaring the ends of metallic tubes. such as the small metallic tubes used in connection with automotive gasoline and oil lines as well as for many other purposes.

When tubes of this character are to be used in connection with the flared tube couplings of the type illustrated in Patent No. 1,733,925, issued October 29, 1929, the ends of the tubes should preferably be provided with reasonably accurate conical flares.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hand tool for rapidly and conveniently flaring the ends of such small metallic tubes. A further object of the invention is to provide a tool which will flare the tube to the proper angle 1 and to the proper depth. Another object is to provide a tool which may be operated easily by unskilled persons. A further object is to provide a tool which will flare the end of the tube without scratching or marring the internal surface of the flared portion of the tube. Another object is to provide a flaring tool embodying a punch in which the punch is automatically centered with respect to the tube being flared. Another object is to provide a flaring tool which can be operated without danger of injury to the operator. Another object is to provide a flaring tool which can be manufactured economically and easily.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form of my invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawing.

in order to attain the objects of. my invention, I preferably hold the end of the tube in a split die having a roughened'or threaded cylindrical portion adapted to engage and flrmly hold the tube, and having a conical portion adapted to form the tube to the desired shape. The forming operation is carried out by a punch mounted on a frame which may be slid along the die and which is automatically centered with respect to the tube. The flare is produced by striking the punch sharply with a hammer, and in order to prevent iniury to the operator a guard is formed on the support for the punch.

Referring now to the drawing, Figure-1 is a perspective of my flaring tool showing the punch in position ready to flare the end of a tube; Fig.

2 is a longitudinal section through the tool shown in Fig. 1, and showing the tube in'position but before the flaring operation hastaken place; Fig. 3 is' a transverse section as indicated by the line 33 on Fig. 1, and showing the appearance of the tool after the flaring operation has taken place; Fig. 4 is a perspective of the die showing a tube clamped therein in position for flaring but with the punch and its carriage removed;' and, Fig. 5 is a perspective showing the die open 5 to release the tube therefrom.

As illustrated in the drawing, the die comprises two parts 10 and 11. Each of these parts is provided with a series of semi-circular recesses 12 and 13, respectively, of varying sizes. When .10 the two parts of the die are clamped together, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the semi-circular recesses in each part cooperate to form a complete die.

In order to firmly grip the tube, each recess is roughened or threaded as indicated at 14 and the 15 upper portion of each recess is beveled to provide a conical flared opening, as indicated at 15.

To secure the two portions 10 and 11 of the die firmly together to thereby clamp a tube in the selected recess, I employ bolts and 21 pro- 20 vided with wing nuts 22 and 23, respectively. The bolt 20 is secured to the end of the member 11 by a pin 24 and passes through a hole drilled in the member 10, the end of the bolt being pivotally mounted in the slot 25 by means of the 25 pin 24. The bolt 21 is pivotally mounted in a slot 26 at the opposite end of the member 11 by means of a pin- 27, and the bolt 21 is adapted to be swung into a slot 28 in the end ofthe member 10 so that wing nut 23 can engage the side 30 of the member 10 opposite the member 11.

The end of the member 11 adjacent the bolt 20 is cut away, as indicated by 30, so that the member 11 may be swung away from the member 10 to the position shown in Fig. 5 when the wing nut 23 and bolt 21 are released from engagement with the member 10 and when the wing nut 22 is loosened. In operation, a tube can readily be clamped-in the desired opening in the die byswinging the two parts of the die together and 40 tightening up on the two wing nuts. The end of the tube should be substantially flush with the top of the die as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The flaring operation is carried out by a punch 35 having a conical end 36 which corresponds su iace of the die, while the legs 40 of the outer which loosely engage the sides of the die members 10 and 11, and thus laterally guide the support and the punch. The lips 42 are cut away to clear the bolts 20 and 21 and the punch is disposed adjacent one end of the carriage so that the length of the members '10 and 11 can be kept at a minimum.

The punch is urged downwardly in its support by a relatively light spring .43 which is compressed between the U-shaped member 37 and a shoulder 44 on the punch. A pin 45 is'provided to prevent the punch from being pushed out of its support by the action of the spring. When the punch is engaged with the end of an unflared tube, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the action of the spring tends to raise the entire support from the die. When the operator holds the support firmly against the die, a certain amount of pressure is applied by the spring between the tion of pressure is to caus'e'the punch to be accurately centered with respect to the tube. B

reason of this construction, it is practically impossible to obtain anything but a perfectly aligned flare with my tool.

In operation, it is only necessary to loosen the wing nuts 22 and 23, insert the end of the tube in the proper sized opening in the die as indicated by the stamped numbers on the tool, so that the end of the tubing is substantially flush with the top of the die, and then tighten the wing nuts to securely hold the tubing in place. Thereafter, the punch assembly is placed over the tubing and the support is pressed firmly down against the die so that the punch is automatically and accurately centered in the tubing. Then the top of the punch is given a few taps with a hammer and the flare is completed. In use the operator may place his thumb in the space 46 between the U-shaped members 3'7 and 38 so that he is protected by the top of the member 38 from glancing blows of the hammer.

From the foregoing description of a preferred form of my invention it will be seen that by reason of the fact that the punch is automatically centered, an unskilled operator can make a perfect flare. The punch acts straight downwardly without any twisting so that the end of the tubing cannot be scored. The device is extremely simple, can be economically manufactured and because of the simplicity of the operation of the device, tubes can be prop fl r d n a very short time.

In the foregoing specification, I have described only a preferred form of my invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made therein all without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that my patent is not limited to the specific form described herein, or in any manner other than by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flaring tool comprising a two part die having a series of recesses adapt-ed to'receive metallic tubes of varying sizes, means for clamping the two parts of said die together firmly to clamp a tube in any one of said recesses, a punch adapted to flare the end of a tube so clamped, and a carriage adapted to support the punch in registration with a tube contained in any one of said openings, said carriage comprising an inner U- shaped member adapted to engage the upper surface of the die,,an-outer U' -shaped member adapted to engage lateral surfaces of the die, said U- shaped members having aligned openings adapted to receive the punch, and means for urging said punch downwardly into engagement with the end of a tube carried in said die to insure proper alignment thereof when the carriage is held in position, comprising a spring surroundmg said punch and engaging a shoulder-thereon and compressed between said shoulder and one of said U-shaped members.

2. A flaring tool comprising a two part die having a series of recesses adapted to receive metallic tubes of varying sizes, means for clamping the two parts of said die together to firmly clamp a tube in any one of said recesses, a punch adapted to flare the end of atube so clamped, and a carriage adapted to support the punch in registration-with a tube contained in any one of said openings, said carriage comprising an inner U- shaped member adapted to engage the upper surpunch downwardly with respect to the carriage and into engagement with the end of a tube carrifed in said die to insure proper alignment there- 0 3. A flaring tool comprising a two part die havmg a series of recesses adapted to receive metallic tubes of varying sizes, means for clamping the two parts of said die together to firmly clamp a tube in any one of said recesses, a punch adapted to flare the end of a tube so clamped, and a carriage adapted to support the punch in registration with a tube contained in any one of said openings, said carriage comprising two U-shaped members having aligned openings adapted to receive the punch, and resilient means for urging said punch downwardly with respect to the carriage and into engagement with the end of a tube carried in said die to insure proper alignment thereof.

4. In a flaring tool, the combination of a die having a series of openings of varying sizes, means for clamping a metallic tube in said openings, said die having a flat top surface adjacent the edges thereof and parallel vertical surfaces on either side thereof, a punch, and means for supporting said punch in registration with any one of said openings comprising a carriage slidably mounted on said die and comprising an inner U- shaped member adapted to engage the upper surface of said die, an outer U-shaped member secured to the inner U-shaped member and having portions adapted to engage the side vertical surfaces of said die, said U-shaped members having aligned openings for supporting said punch, said punch being disposed adjacent one end of said carriage.

5. In a flaring tool, the combination of a die having a series of openings of varying sizes, means for clamping a metallic tube in any one of said openings, a punch, and means for supporting said punch in registration with any one or said openings comprising a carriage slidably mounted on said die and comprising an inner U-shaped member and an outer U-shaped member secured to the inner U-shaped member, said U-shaped members having aligned openings for supporting said punch, and said outer U-shaped member being arranged to protect the hand of the operator of the tool from injury.

6. In a flaring tool, the combination of a die having a series of openings therein, means for clamping a metallic tube in any one of said openings, a punch adapted to flare the end of a tube so clamped, and means for supporting the punch in registration with any one of said openings comprising a carriage slidable longitudinalLv on the upper surface of said die, means in the carriage for guiding said punch, and resilient means engaging said carriage and said punch for urging said punch into engagement with a tube clamped in said die.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a die having a series of openings adapted to receiveand clamp metal tubes therein, each of said openings having a conical flared portion at one end thereof, a carriage slidably mounted on said die, a punch slidably mounted in said carriage, said punch having a conical end corresponding to the conical flared portions of said openings and being adapted to flare the end of a tube clamped in any one of said openings, and means for automatically centering said punch with respect to the tube comprising a spring engaging the punch and the carriage and urging said punch toward said die.

8. In a flaring tool, the combination of a die having a series of openings of varying sizes,

means for clamping a metallic tube in any one surface, and a punch slidably mounted in said carriage.

9. In a flaring tool, the combination of a die having a series of openings of varying sizes, means for clamping a metallic tube in any one of said openings, said die having a flat top surface, a carriage slidablysmounted on said die and having portions in engagement with said flat top surface, and a punch slidably mounted in said carriage.

10. In a flaring tool, the combination of a die having a series of openings each adapted to receive and clamp a metal tube therein, the upper portions of said openings being flared, a punch, means for supporting said punch in registration with any one of said openings comprising a carriage slidably mounted on said die and supported by engagement with the upper surface of said die, and resilient means engaging said punch and said carriage and adapted to urge said punch toward said die. I

HENRY D. STECHER. 

